Jacques Villeret
Date of birth: 1951-02-06
Place of birth: Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Jacky Boufroura
Biography
Jacques Villeret (6 February 1951 – 28 January 2005) was a French actor, best known internationally for his role as François Pignon in the comedy Le Dîner de Cons. During his career, he earned many awards including the prestigious medal and title of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. Villeret was born Jacky Boufroura in Loches, Indre-et-Loire, France, to an Algerian father and a French mother. He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSAD) in the same class as Louis Seigner, the grandfather of Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathilde Seigner. While he was most famous for his role as François Pignon in Le Dîner de Cons; both on the stage and in the film, his other celebrated roles included the extra terrestrial in La soupe aux choux, the autistic Mo in L'été en pente douce, and marshal Ludwig von Apfelstrudel in Papy fait de la résistance. At the time of making the film Un aller simple directed by Laurent Heynemann – a film about integration and racism and the clash of generations – he said that watching the young actors in the film, Barbara Schulz and Lorant Deutsch, reminded him of the insouciance he had had as a young man with his friends at the Conservatoire. When his career was at its height, with the success of Le Dîner de Cons, everything collapsed in a tragedy mirroring the plot of the film. Villeret separated from his wife and suffered an enormous financial downfall due to tax issues, plunging him into depression. Villeret turned to alcohol for comfort, and became an alcoholic. He isolated himself and hid away for long periods. He later said: Alcohol is a friend, but a friend who means you harm. Villeret's love of his profession helped to bring his career back from the brink. In an interview in 2001 he spoke of his admiration for performers like Johnny Hallyday and Jacques Brel for their level of commitment, and quoted the author Louis-Ferdinand Céline: When I write, I put my balls on the table. In 1979 Villeret married Irina Tarassov, an actress and writer. They separated in 1998. Tassarov wrote about their life together in her book Un jour, tout ira bien. (One day, everything will go well). In 2002 Villeret met Seny, a Senegalese-French widow descended through her grandfather, Mor Diarra N'Dao, from a long line of Sérès nobles of the ancient Kingdom of Saloum, and they fell instantly and deeply in love. They were partners for three years, and she was about to move to Paris to be with him when he died in Évreux in January 2005 of a liver haemorrhage. Seny wrote a memoir of their life together, Jacques Villeret, mon bébé blanc, which was published in Paris by Le Cherche Midi in 2005. Source: Article "Jacques Villeret" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Movie Credits
Danton
1983-01-12
Danton and Robespierre were close friends and fought together in the French Revolution, but by 1793
The Good and the Bad
1976-01-19
The film follows the exploits of Jacques, a car-mechanic turned pro-thief, and his Jewish co-conspir
Viper in the Fist
2004-10-06
1920. Jean Rezeau and his elder brother were living happily in their family estate in Brittany, unti
The Dinner Game
1998-04-15
For Pierre Brochant and his friends, Wednesday is “Idiots' Day”. The idea is simple: each person has
Le Rabat-joie
1978-01-01
The Cabbage Soup
1981-12-02
Two buddy farmers are visited by aliens who like their domestic cabbage soup.
One Way Ticket
2001-05-30
Jean-Pierre (Jacques Villeret), un attaché humanitaire qui travaille au ministère des Affaires Etran
Hold-up
1985-10-23
Dressed as a clown, the clever rascal Grimm holds up the most secure bank of Montreal and takes 30 h
The Do-Gooders
2005-10-19
Three former bank robbers are meeting after 25 years...
The Children of the Marshland
1999-03-03
The film is set in Marais, a quiet region along the banks of Loire river in 1918. Riton is afflicted
Malabar Princess
2004-03-03
A man leaves his 8-year old son with his father-in-law who lives near the glacier where the boy's mo
Mookie
1998-12-09
A talking chimp, a jolly monk and a boxer on the run make an unlikely team in this French comedy for
Bolero
1981-05-27
The film follows four families, with different nationalities (French, German, Russian and American)
Grey Souls
2005-09-28
In 1917, the old rivalry between a prosecutor and a judge resurfaces during a police investigation i
Les Folles Années du Twist
1986-02-26
A small town in Algeria, in the years 1960-1962. Two young idle boys and rock fans, Boualem and Sala
Black Mic Mac
1986-04-23
This is a charming and successful farce from director Thomas Gilou, featuring a witty screenplay co-
Last Summer in Tangiers
1987-04-22
In 1956, with the independence of Morocco, the Fedala conference in Tangier is set in a city of turm
L'été en pente douce
1987-04-29
When he inherits the family house and property after his mother's death, aspiring novelist Fane retu
The Castaways of Turtle Island
1976-10-06
Jean-Arthur has been working as a clerk in a travel agency. One day, he, along with his colleague co
Malevil
1981-05-13
In southern France, in a quiet little town, the mayor, who also owns a castle with some cattle, is i
Iznogoud
2005-01-19
In Baghdad the Magnificent reigns Haroun al Plassid, who is the Caliph. There also dwells Iznogoud,
Keep Your Right Up
1987-12-30
This film is made up several sketches in which certain actors play several real or fictional roles t
Gramps Is in the Resistance
1983-10-26
It is 1943 in Paris. Like so many others, the Bourbelle family's home has been taken over by the Ger
The Antidote
2005-03-30
JAM (Christian Clavier), a French "master of the universe" is on the brink of a major takeover when
Le Furet
2003-10-29
From his locksmith's shop, a simple guy dreams of becoming a crime boss, at the wheel of his Cadilla
The Professional Secrets of Dr. Apfelgluck
1991-04-24
This series of sketches introduces doctor Apfelglück and four of his patients... and their rather pe
Strange Gardens
2003-03-26
Lucien, 14, can’t understand why his father, a serious and respected teacher, makes a fool of himsel
The Joint Brothers
1986-10-15
After he is dismissed from his umpteenth job, Momo is kicked out of the family home by his fed-up fa
The Vultures
1984-03-28
April 5, 1943: a battalion of the Foreign Legion arrives in El Ksour, Tunisia, to escort a fortune i
A Crime in Paradise
2001-02-28
In the 1980 French countryside, farmer Jojo and his ill-tempered wife Lulu hate each other, though t
Three Years
1990-08-29
After the French defeat of 1870, Julia took three years to love Alexander, with whom she married for
Le Dernier Été
1997-05-14
The story of Georges Mandel, an anti-Nazi French parliamentarian who refused to abdicate to the Vich
Waiter!
1983-11-09
After a tumultuous life, a middle-aged headwaiter in a Parisian restaurant dreams of opening a seasi
Le Bal des casse-pieds
1992-02-12
A tolerant veterinarian turns the other cheek when annoyed but changes his nature when he falls in l
Us Two
1979-05-23
Françoise has gone into business seducing men whose wives want to divorce them, and who need incrimi
Move Along, There Is Nothing to See!
1983-04-20
Inspector Leroux is investigating the owner of a contemporary art gallery Helen Duvernet who is susp
The Drummer of Ravel's Boléro
1992-05-15
Probably no one in the public listening to the orchestra's rendition of Ravel's Bolero notices him b
588 rue Paradis
1992-01-14
A successful playwright reflects on his journey from his Armenian roots to adapting in France, forty
The Big Brother
1982-09-08
The plot in this story weaves around like a New Year's reveler at four in the morning, heading first
Another Man, Another Chance
1977-09-28
Young Jeanne falls in love with photographer Francis, who soon takes her with him when he emigrates
La Galette du roi
1986-01-29
In this conventional, broadly comic farce of greed and royal matrimony, nearly bankrupt businessman
Nothing to Report
1973-08-15
In 1956, the professional army of France lacks the manpower to keep the peace in Algeria, the colony
Mountain Pass
1978-11-08
Serge (Stevenin) is a dweller in the French provinces who happens upon Georges (Jacques Villeret), a
The Son of the Mekong
1992-04-08
Tran and three of his friends flee Vietnam by swimming across the Mekong river. They take refuge in
Georges Dandin de Molière
1997-02-07
The adaptation of Molière's comedy-ballet in three acts.
Dialogue de sourds
1985-01-01
Heart to Heart
1979-01-03
The independently-minded daughter of lower-middle class French shopkeepers, Brigitte, one of three s
L'Âge d'or de la pub
2023-06-02
55 years ago, on October 1 1968, the first brand advertising spot appeared on the French television
Robert et Robert
1978-06-13
Robert #1 is played by Charles Denner, while Robert #2 is played by Jacques Villeret. Beyond their c
Golden Boy
1996-02-21
Antoine a Union representative works in a financially troubled factory. He's not the sharpest tool i
A Second Chance
1976-09-30
Imprisoned as an accessory to murder, Catherine gives birth to a son she conceived in prison. Eighte
Dumb But Disciplined
1979-08-21
Jacques does his military service. Shy, round and clumsy, he is forced to agree to be the driver of
Drôle de samedi
1985-04-01
For Véronique and Pierre, it's a strange Saturday: unusual encounters and unpredictable events follo
Effraction
1983-04-06
During a robbery that goes wrong, Valentin Tralande kills his accomplices and bank customers.
Un Balcon en forêt
1978-05-16
An adaptation of the novel of the same name by Julien Gracq. Four soldiers await a possible German a
The Mouth Agape
1974-05-08
Monique is dying of cancer, lying in bed in the apartment above the store her family owns. Her phila
Out of Whack
1979-12-12
Rien ne va plus is a series of comedy sketches of disparate quality, on the social, cultural, and po
La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
2022-01-07
In May 1974, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing became President of the Republic and wanted to bring about a n
Edith and Marcel
1983-01-01
This tragic musical drama chronicles the star-crossed love between beloved French singer Edith Piaf
La Petite Amie
1988-09-14
Martin Morel wants to spend Sylvester with both his wife and family and his girlfriend Agnes. So he
C'est encore mieux l'après-midi
1987-02-06
Nailcruncher
1988-06-06
Adapation of the fanciful comic novel by Albert Cohen.
Detective Story
1972-10-30
Un fil à la patte
1989-10-02
The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish
1991-05-01
A farce, Hoskins plays a photographer who specializes in religious pictures who searches for a model
Mon premier amour
1978-08-30
This sentimental drama is the story of the relationship between a lovely mother and her 20-year-old
La Folle Histoire de François Pignon - De La chèvre au Dîner de cons
2015-01-24
Serious as Pleasure
1975-01-15
Two men and a woman live quite happily together in a romantic liaison. The woman is probably wealthy
Un amour de pluie
1974-01-10
Elizabeth and her daughter Cecile spend their holidays at a lakeside resort in the French mountains.
Actors
2000-04-05
Les Acteurs is the absurd story of Jean-Pierre Marielle desperately waiting for a cup of hot water,
The Common Man
1975-02-26
Georges Lajoie is a Parisian café owner. As every summer, Georges, his wife Ginette and grown-up son
Nono Nénesse
1976-12-31
Two adults play babies and wild antics ensue.
Wacko
1994-06-08
An anthology movie comprising four weird stories. Like the Twilight Zone movie but strictly played f
Jacques Villeret, drôlement tragique
2025-01-28
First Name: Carmen
1983-12-01
The protagonist is Carmen X, a sexy female member of a terrorist gang. She asks her uncle Jean, a wa
Belmondo: The Incorrigible
2022-09-05
Charismatic and resourceful, seducer and daredevil, Jean-Paul Belmondo has always played his roles a